Why You Will Love the Galaxy Iraklio Hotel, in Heraklion City, Crete

This is a review of the Galaxy Iraklio Hotel in the capital of Crete. Discover why this is the perfect family-friendly hotel in Heraklion, its facilities, convenient location, and other perks!

Crete is the biggest of the Greek Islands, so those planning to visit as much of it as possible usually rent a car (or even make use of public transport) to move around, from the east coast to the west and from the cities of the north to the beautiful southern beaches.

For that reason, and to avoid driving at night on the narrow National Road or through the mountains, whenever I visit a different town—for work or pleasure—if that spot is more than two hours from home, I need to pick a hotel to spend the night in a different town and go back to Chania the next morning.

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Choosing a Hotel in Heraklion

Since Crete has so many towns and places worth seeing, travelers have a wide choice of areas to stay during their one or two-week vacation.

Many charter flights from Europe normally land in Heraklion, and several visitors take advantage to visit the city center, the Archaeological Museum, and the well-known Minoan Palace of Knossos. 

Therefore, when traveling around the island, sometimes a well-deserved rest is more important than anything, especially when there’s so much to see and do.

Galaxy Iraklio Hotel in Heraklion

We used to land in Heraklion when Crete was still our holiday destination. We’ve been living on the island permanently for a few years now, and even though we live in Chania, we visit the capital (Heraklion) a few times a year.

I do it for work, but I also drive to the capital for Christmas shopping, visit friends, and often take a ferry to other islands at the port of Heraklion.

Galaxy’s Central Location

Due to its central location, Galaxy Iraklio Hotel is a comfortable choice. It’s very close to the city center, but not in the city center, which means easy parking and being close enough to virtually everything. The hotel is also comfortably located near the highway, the port, and the airport.

We stayed in the hotel at the end of the peak season (October in Crete), and that did not mean getting cold or fast service. On the contrary, we were warmly received. After a quick check-in procedure, a cute kit with toiletries and entertaining activities for children was the first of the many details that made a difference.

The Rooms at Galaxy Hotel Iraklio

I don’t know about you, but tiny hotels where you bump into furniture always get on my nerves. This was not the case. Entering our room was a magnificent experience. The rooms in this hotel prove that ample spaces can also be cozy and warm!

Comfort

Since traveling with the kids, we had a family room, which meant two communicating suites with two huge bathrooms, two fridges, two TV sets, two closets, and two different welcome treats.

While we, adults, could enjoy strawberries with chocolate, the kids had their serving of M&Ms and other sweets. We were ready to enjoy a much-desired rest to the full.

Allergy-Free

Our room was elegant, beautifully decorated, and comfortable. As I read before arrival, many rooms have an allergy-friendly certificate. This suits both kids and parents.

The convenience of our connecting family room was a blessing, which we appreciated since it’s not a common feature lately when most hotels are for adults only. Overall, the hotel offers a serene, stylish atmosphere and caters to every detail.

The Galaxy App

You can now download the hotel’s App to personalize your visit, discover services and offers, plan and book the stay, keep track of your reservation, and view restaurant menus.

Other Facilities: Pool, Steam Room, and Gym

On our second day, we wandered around the nearby areas of the city and spent a whole morning in Heraklion’s Labyrinth Park.

That meant being dead tired and longing for a well-deserved pause next to the pool. Swimming pools in city hotels in Heraklion are rare.

So, if you’d like to swim around the city after a day, this is a place to consider. There’s a perfect pool waiting for you to recover from a day in the city. During our stay, we spent a few hours relaxing on the pool deck with a cup of Greek coffee.

The children, instead, enjoyed swimming. You can also use the gym facilities or take a break in the magnificent steam room.

Dining at the Galaxy

You might wonder about dinner after a long day around town or taking advantage of the gym and the pool. The hotel has two fine restaurants to choose from!

My Favorite Feature: The Great Cretan Breakfast!

There’s nothing more invigorating than starting your day with a delicious palette of dishes. Galaxy Iraklio Hotel’s colors and tastes mix international flavors and the most enticing local ingredients.

As a result, the breakfast buffet offers a unique variety of delicious dishes to begin the morning. You can make it International, English, Continental, or Cretan (my favorite!).

As a fan of the island’s culture, I adored the Cretan angle for breakfast, which even served raki and rakomelo with an impressive variety of local liquors and delicacies. The offer goes from sweet pastries to artisan cheese, homemade marmalade, Cretan olives, and spoon sweets.

There’s also a wide variety of bread, tea, and local olive oil. And don’t worry—if you are a healthy type, there are plenty of options for you!

Why I recommend this hotel in Heraklion…

Galaxy Hotel Iraklio gave us the authentic values of a Cretan family in a top-class environment.
We enjoyed a pleasant and relaxing stay, and it wasn’t just a child-friendly hotel for a luxury holiday; It was more!

Everybody went the extra mile to ensure we had the time of our lives. They surrounded us with thoughtful details, and a smile always welcomed us home.

Review
I was a guest for three days at the Galaxy Iraklio Hotel, yet all opinions remain, as usual, my own and unbiased. Thank you to all the management and staff for the care and service.

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Galaxy Hotel Iraklio, Crete

Gabi, the Crete Insider

Hi, I’m Gabi — your go-to local expert in Crete! I’ve been living in Chania, Crete since 2016, and I’ve turned my love for the island into a full-time passion — guiding travelers, writing for travel media, and curating local experiences.

I co-authored DK Eyewitness Top 10 Crete and other guides. I run the blogs The Tiny Book, Greece Planner, and My Cretan Recipe. Through this platform I help travelers design unforgettable trips to Crete.

👉 Read more about Crete Insider.